The Botswana Premier League (BPL) match was played in front of a capacity crowd at the Galaxy Stadium. Galaxy's head coach, Morena Ramoreboli is keeping the championship thought off his players as he said the team’s target is always going for the next fixture. “Let’s be honest, we cannot talk about the championship now.
We need to talk about the number of points we accumulate and we need to talk about the consistency. These two things are very important. For this kind of match, a draw is really is expected. We managed to get the draw away and they came here and got a draw. This is our first draw at home which I think we will take and prepare for the next game,” Ramoreboli said. From the first whistle, Galaxy made their presence felt in their territory. The team took control of the tie for the first quarter of an hour.
Their efforts were rewarded in the 16th minute as an own goal put Galaxy in front. Wendell Rudath put in a low cross in the box and the ball came off Rollers’ skipper, Simisane Mathumo in to his own net as Galaxy took an early lead. Galaxy came close again in the 23rd minute as Daniel Msendami showed quick feet to beat his marker but saw his shot blocked from the goal.
At the other end, Mogakolodi Ngele hit the cross bar from outside the box. Rollers were awarded a penalty after Jackson Lesole was brought down inside the box. Ngele stepped-up and sent the keeper the other way to level the scores in the 36th minute. The home side came close to regaining the lead as Lesego Kereedilwe rose highest but directed his header to the side net in the dying moments of the first half.
The teams were tied at 1-1 at the break. Unlike the first, the second half took off at a rather slow start until Marvel Papama missed the goal by just a whisker from a free-kick attempt in the 58th minutes. Two minutes later, Rudath directed yet another free-kick attempt over the bar. Galaxy’s keeper, Karabo Gaolebale pulled his best performance of the afternoon when made two consecutive saves to deny Ngele and Siyanda Ngubo from inside the box. Five minutes later, Kabelo Maphakela, at the other end, dealt with Rudath and Msendami’s attempts.
Ngele came close once again but his attempt from a free-kick was fisted away from the goal. Rollers’ defender, Onkarabile Ratanang was sent off in the last minutes of the tightly contested tie. “We had to get into the game after 20 minutes; they started well and they even got a goal. I think the travel affected us because our players looked a little bit tired but when we conceded, the response from our players was great. I know their attitude and they showed it as we got a goal. I think the draw will favour Galaxy more but we had prepared and played games against quality teams (during the international window period),” Rollers’ Sergio Traquil said after the match.
The teams Galaxy: Karabo Gaolebale, Moagi Sechele, Lesego Kereedilwe, Thabo Leinanyane, Kitso Mangolo, Kutlwelo Mpolokang, Marcel Papama, Gift Moyo (Gilbert Baruti), Thabang Sesinyi, Wendell Rudath (Thatayaone Ramatlapeng), Daniel Msendami
Rollers: Kabelo Maphakela, Onkarabile Ratanang, Jackson Lesole, Mosha Gaolaolwe, Simisani Mathumo, Thabo Wetshoemang, Edwin Moalosi, Shaun Gcumeni (Segolame Boy), Lebopo Moremi (Phenyo Serameng), Mogakolodi Ngele, Morgan Gaseitsewe (Siyanda Ngubo) Cautions: Kereedilwe, Rudath, Moyo, Mpolokang, Moremi, Ratanang, Moalosi Dismissal: Ratanang
Galaxy 1 (Mathumo o.g 16th) Rollers 1 (Ngele pen. 36th)
